Foodies, families and friend hangs – how to do Regional Flavours your way
The air is crisp, the produce is fresh and our stomachs are growling in anticipation – yep, it’s time to welcome the return of Regional Flavours Presented by The Courier-Mail! The massive celebration of Queensland’s natural bounty is returning to South Bank from July 20–21, bringing a line-up of eats and entertainment that is as delicious as it is diverse. With so much going on, it can be hard to navigate to the bits of the festival that interest you the most – but we’ve got your back. Whether you’re chasing cheap eats or just want to keep your little ones busy, we’ve broken down the Regional Flavours offering so you can do it your way.
Going regional
It would be remiss of us to talk about Regional Flavours without highlighting its biggest (and namesake) drawcard – the amazing fresh produce made my local growers. The Flavours of the Regions stalls are your passport to the state’s richest tasting pockets – sample ready-to-eat bites from the pristine Redlands Coast, the lush hills of the Scenic Rim, and the bounty from Lockyer Valley, South Burnett, and Logan. All cravings will be covered – from pumpkin scones to pork-belly tacos, it’s all there.
For the little ones
If you have ankle-biters who need entertaining over the weekend, be sure to pay a visit to South Bank’s Epicurious Garden for the Kids Collective! Running in conjunction with the legends at OzHarvest, this dedicated zone will introduce little food fighters to Lenny and the Ants, who will get hands-on with crafty activities, tomato harvesting and veggie planting. Lenny and the Ants is a children’s book commissioned to raise money for OzHarvest that will launch at Regional Flavours.
Feelin’ fancy
Craving a break from the hustle and bustle of festival life? If you want to kick your weekend up to luxe status, River Quay presented by eatSouthBank is the place to do it. Indulge in tasting plates from the precinct’s strip of five-star venues – think Stokehouse Q, The Jetty, River Quay Fish, Popolo and Aquitaine. It wouldn’t be a party without some tipples, so you can sip on a killer selection of craft beers, specialty cocktails and top-shelf vino while you’re at it.
Pleased to meat you
For those seeking a central meating point (ha!) that will make mouths water, make tracks for The Hunting Club. Hosted by beer legend Matt Kirkegaard, this thriving hotspot is the perfect place to chill out with live tunes while you sample the best of our state’s meat and livestock industry. As well as a full belly, you might walk away with more barbecue smarts than you had previously – a handful of resident butchers will be on hand sharing their knowledge on all things animal and edible.
Get schooled
Feeling curious about what might be on your plate in 2050? Feed your need for knowledge at Future Foods. This specialist area will be showcasing the latest in food innovations and technology – from functional wellness and adopting smart agribusiness technologies, through to embracing provenance and promoting the microclimatic advantages of Queensland’s unique food bowl regions. Patrons can also get a taste of the future at Innovation Alley, where some weird and wonderful inventions will be up for critique and testing.
Cheap eats
There are two kinds of people in the world – those who love a bargain and stone-cold liars. To experience a culinary spread for (basically) pocket change, you’re going to want to hit up the eatSouthBank Street Stalls. Think of it as a cheat sheet to all things South Bank dining – some of the most-loved spots in the area will be dishing out fresh-as-heck bites for you to enjoy. Oh, and with every dish coming in at a tidy $8 or less, you can afford to mix and match with your mates.
Feeling inspired? This is just the beginning – for an in-depth look at everything that’s happening at Regional Flavours, head to the official website and start planning your weekend.
To find out more about what’s on in Brisbane, head to our Event Guide.
